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Thomas H. Barnes (1831–1913)

Thomas H. Barnes was a physician and a member of the House of
Delegates (1874–1877), the Senate of Virginia (1887–1894), and the Convention of
1901–1902. Born in Nansemond County, he was educated at the University of Virginia and the Medical College of Virginia. He
practiced medicine, never married, and did not serve in the military during the American Civil War (1861–1865). After
the war, Barnes became active in Democratic Party politics, serving in the General Assembly and in the state
constitutional convention. He died in 1913. MORE...

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Barnes was born on May 28, 1831, in southwest Nansemond County, the youngest of three
or four sons and as many as five children of James Barnes, a farmer, and Elizabeth
Barnes. He attended the University of Virginia from 1849 to 1852 and graduated from
the Medical College of Virginia in 1853. Barnes then returned to Nansemond County and
practiced medicine there until he retired about 1888. He frequently attended local
fox hunts and was a popular figure known for his long, full beard and for his height,
which earned him the nickname "Tall Sycamore of Nansemond." He did not
serve in the military during the Civil War and never married.

Barnes was active in local politics for much of his adult life. He served on the
Nansemond County Board of Supervisors from early in the 1870s until 1901 and in the
House of Delegates from 1874 to 1877. From 1887 to 1894 he represented Isle of Wight, Nansemond, and
Southampton counties in the
Senate of Virginia. Barnes was also county chairman of the Democratic Party for many
years. In April 1901 he was his party's unanimous choice for Nansemond's
seat in a state constitutional convention, and he faced no Republican opposition in
the May election. Barnes served on the Committee on the Elective Franchise and
chaired the Committee on the Organization and Government of Counties. He took little
part in the debates and voted with the majorities that adopted a suffrage article
designed to reduce the number of black voters and implemented the constitution
without a popular referendum.

Beginning in 1888 and 1889, respectively, Barnes sat for the rest of his life on the
boards of visitors of the College of
William and Mary and the Medical College of Virginia, serving as president
of the latter from 1907 on. Barnes died at his home in Suffolk on June 4, 1913.

Time Line

May 28, 1831
- Thomas H. Barnes is born in Nansemond County.

1849–1852
- Thomas H. Barnes attends the University of Virginia.

1853
- Thomas H. Barnes graduates from the Medical College of Virginia.